Apparatus for and method of handling envelopes or similar articles



Sept. 14, 1965 v. E. HEYWOOD APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING ENVELOPES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 30, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1

Nl/ENTOR VINCENT EHEYWOOD AGENT Sept. 14, 1965 Filed Jan. 30,

ENVELOPES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 Sept. 14, 1965 v. E. HEYWOOD APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING ENVELOPES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 30, 1964 Sept. 14, 1965 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,206,

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING ENVELOPES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 30, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

Sept. 14, 1965 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,206,189

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING ENVELOPES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 30. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,206,189 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING ENVELOPES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Vincent E. Heywood, Worcester, Mass, assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass.,

a corporation of Maine Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,361 4 Claims. (Cl. 270-459) This invention relates generally to apparatus for and method of handling envelope or similar articles, and more specifically, this invention relates to apparatus for and method of removing individual envelopes alternately from two separate stacks and combining them in a single stack in such a manner that the flaps and body portions of adjacent envelopes are interleaved.

In the packaging of envelopes, it has been the practice in the past to package groups of a certain count in various ways. It has been common to find the groups banded, boxed, or wrapped like a package with a sheet of paper, plastic or similar material. A recent deviation from the common ways of packaging groups of envelopes has been to arrange the envelopes such that the flaps and body portions of adjacent envelopes are interleaved. Groups of the so-interleaved envelopes are then put in a box, with the flap or body portion of an end envelope protruding through an opening in the box so that, due to the fact that the envelopes are interleaved, the box will act as a dispenser. Each envelope as it is removed from the box pulls the next envelope, with which it is interleaved, into the opening for subsequent removal. It will be noted that this follows the same principle as the well known paper tissure dispensing boxes.

Delivery mechanisms on envelope making machines are not adapted for delivering the envelopes in an interleaved manner. These mechanisms deliver envelopes in stacks or piles in which the envelopes are face to back, and their flaps are flat against the back of the envelope from which they extend. Also, the envelopes are all oriented in the same manner, so that all the flaps point in the same direction. For the flaps and body portions of adjacent envelopes to interleave, it is necessary that alternate envelopes be reversed in position so that the flaps of adjacent envelopes point in opposite directions.

In addition to the reversal of position of alternate envelopes from their positions as they are discharged from the envelope making machines, the body portion of each envelope must be tucked in between the flap and body portion of an adjacent envelope. The interleaving operation cannot easily be performed on the envelope making machine, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for automatically interleaving the envelopes after they have been removed from the delivery section of the envelope making machine.

It is a further object of this invention to perform the interleaving operation in a simple and inexpensive manner so as not to appreciably increase the cost of a package of interleaved envelopes over a similar package of envelopes put up in a normal way.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the structural details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the envelope interleaving machine according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view in section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of one view of one of the side hoppers and envelope withdrawing arms as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 44 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a diagram of the drive mechanism.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are sequence diagrams illustrating the interleaving of envelopes according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the machine according to this invention includes a table-like, generally horizontal frame plate 10 having an opening 12 therein. Two upright, opposed frame posts 14 and 16 are mounted to the plate 10, and each have portions extending downwardly through the opening 12 in plate 10. The frame posts 14 and 16 are mounted on opposite sides of the opening 12 by means of the tongue and groove elements 18, 20, 22 and 24. The distance between the posts 14 and 16 can be adjusted by turning the shaft 26 onto which each of the posts 14 and 16 are threaded. This results in the posts moving either towards or away from each other by means of their respective tongue and groove elements. When a desired spacing is reached, the studs 28 and 30 may be tightened to lock both posts in position.

The posts 14 and 16 are used for supporting the three envelope hoppers necessary in this invention. The supply hoppers 32 and 34 are supported by the posts 14 and 16 in alignment on two opposite sides of a central envelope receiving hopper 36. The envelope supporting elements 38 and 40 of hopper 32 are adjustable along the length of bar 42, which is held by post 14, to accommodate different lengths of envelopes. Similarly, the elements 44 and 46 of hopper 34 are adjustable along the lengthof bar 48, which is held by post 16, for the same purpose. On the left hand supply hopper 32, brackets 50 and 52 are fixed to the supporting elements 38 and 40 respectively, and carry between them the upper plate 54 of the hopper 32, which is adjustable towards and away from the supporting elements 38 and 40 to accommodate envelopes of different widths. Similarly, brackets 56 and 58 are fixed to the supporting element 44 and 46 of hopper 34, and carry between them the upper plate 60, which is similar to, and adjustable in the same manner as plate 54 of the opposite hopper 32.

For supporting the substantially vertical side plates 62 and 64 of the central hopper 36, the bars 66 and 68 are provided, and are mounted on the frame posts 14 and 16 respectively. Brackets 70 and 72 are attached to the bars 66 and 68 respectively, and hold the side plate 62 and 64 in substantially vertical position.

Envelopes E enter the central hopper 36 from the bottom, and are supported therein by means of two parallel rows of constantly rotating feed wheels, generally designated by 78 and 80, extending along two lower side edges of hopper 36. The feed wheels 78 are carried by a shaft 82 rotatably mounted in brackets 84 and 86 on frame post 14. Spaced apart along the length of shaft 82 are feed wheels 78 keyed thereto. For convenience, the wheels 78 on shaft 82 may be made from the same piece of stock, thereby having the Wheels 78 integral with the shaft 82. Each of the wheels 78 are provided with several teeth, resulting in, in effect, a ratchet-like wheel, to aid in feeding envelopes into the hopper 36. Similarly, the feed wheels are carried by a shaft 90 rotatably mounted in brackets 92 and 94 on frame post 16. Spaced apart along the length of shaft 90 are the feed wheels 80, which are also provided with teeth, making them, in effect, ratchet-like wheels. Each of the rows of feed wheels 78 and 80 are so located with respect to the bottom of the hopper 36 that the outer periphery of the feed wheels 78 and 80 support, while rotating, a stack of envelopes E contained in the hopper 36. The bottom envelope in the central hopper 36 is supported along two edges thereof, allowing all portions of the envelope to be free except the edges. Thus, the flap F of the bottom envelope is allowed to drape downwardly.

The supply hoppers 32 and 34 are used for holding the envelopes to be interleaved. The envelopes are situated in the hoppers 32 and 34 in face to back, end to end relation, so that the closing flap edge of the envelopes E rests on the supporting elements 38 and 40 of hopper 32, while the closing flap edge of the envelopes E in hopper 34 rests on the supporting elements 44 and 46. On each of the supply hoppers 32 and 34, the closing flaps of the envelopes face downwardly. Therefore, the closing flap F of the bottom envelopes E are always exposed at the ends of the hoppers. It will be noted that the two side hoppers 32 and 34 are so positioned relative to the central hopper 36 that the planes of the bottom envelopes in each hopper are approximately tangent to a common imaginary arc.

Two arms 100 and 102 are provided for alternately withdrawing the bottom envelopes from each of the supply hoppers 32 and 34 and inserting them in the bottom of the central hopper 36 in such a manner that the envelopes are interleaved as they are inserted into the hopper 36. The arms 100 and .102 are provided with envelope grasping and supporting heads 104 and 106 respectively on their ends. The arm 100 is pivotly mounted to a downwardly extending portion of post 14, by means of shaft 108. Similarly, arm 102 is pivotly mounted to a downwardly extending portion of post 16 by means of shaft 110. Levers 112 and 114 which are keyed to shafts 108 and 110 respectively, are provided with cam following elements 116 and 118 which are controlled by the cam groove 120 of wheel 122. Rotation of wheel 122 results in the arms 100 and 102 being oscillated through arcs, between their respective feed hopper 32 or 34 whichever the case may be, and the central hopper 36. The oscillation phase of the arms are 180 apart. Consequently, when the head 104 is under the hopper 32, the head 106 is under the central hopper 36, (as illustrated in FIG- URE 1). Conversely, when the head 106 is under the hopper 34, the head 102 is under the hopper 36. When either arm is moving from a supply hopper towards the central hopper 36, the other arm is moving away from the central hopper 36 towards a supply hopper.

The envelope grasping and holding heads 104 and 106 on arms 100 and 102 respectively provide means for withdrawing successive bottom envelopes from the supply hoppers and inserting them into the central receiving hopper 36. Since the arms oscillate one-half cycle out of phase, envelopes are withdrawn alternately from hoppers 32 and 34 for insertion into central hopper 36. Vacuum is drawn through openings in the heads 104 and 106 during their respective strokes from the supply hoppers to the central receiving hopper 36. The vacuum is controlled in a manner to be hereinafter described. The discharge ends of the supply hoppers 32 and 34 are constructed in such a way as the end or lowermost envelopes in the hoppers may be withdrawn by the heads 104 and 106. The inwardly projecting ends 130 and 132 of the plates 54 and 60 respectively, and the stop bars 134 and 136 at the discharge ends of the hoppers 32 and 34 respectively provide support for the lowermost envelopes in the hoppers. However, bar 134 is slightly spaced from the ends of the supporting elements 38 and 40, and bar 136 is likewise slightly spaced from the ends of the supporting elements 42 and 44. This construction permits the envelopes to be withdrawn from the supply hoppers by first sliding the bottom envelopes downwardly through the slots formed between the bars 134 and 136 and the ends of the hopper enough for the edges to slip off the projecting ends 130 and 132, and then reversing direction to move the envelope in the direction of the central hopper 36. a

The arcs prescribed by the ends of the suction heads 104 and 106 are slightly short of the positions of the bottom envelopes in the hoppers 32 and 34, to prevent premature contact of the heads 104 and 106 with the envelopes. However, when the desired contact position is attained in the arc of the suction heads 104 and 106, means are provided for extending the head out to contact the envelope. Suction heads 104 and 106 are mounted on hollow shafts 144 and 146 respectively, which are slidable in openings 148 and 150 of the arms and 102 respectively. The heads are normally urged to their retracted position close to the end of the respective arms by which they are carried, by the springs 152 and 154. However, when the heads 104 and 106 reach positions for grasping the envelopes in the ends of the hoppers 32 and 34, the levers 156 and 158 force the head 104 and 106 outwardly when the lug 160 or 162 contacts stop 164 or 166, thereby rotating pins 168 or 170, lug 160 and lever 156 being keyed to pin 168, and lug 162 and lever 158 being keyed to pin 170. Heads 104 and 106 therefore extend outwardly to contact the bottom envelope E in each hopper when the correct position of the arms is reached, and at the same time, vacuum is applied to the heads 104 and 106. The heads 104 and 106 therefore extend to grasp bottom envelopes in the hoppers 32 and 34, and suction is applied thereto, slightly before the ends of their strokes, in order to withdraw the edge of the bottom envelopes from under the projecting ends or 132. When the arms begin movement towards the central hopper 36, the lug 160 or 162 moves off the stop 164 or 166 to allow the head to retract to its normal position. As movement of the envelope E is continued in the direction of the central hopper 36, it moves in an are such as to strike the underside of the bottom envelope E in the hopper, at an acute angle, before the edge of the flap F on such bottom envelope is reached. Once this contact is made, the leading edge of the envelope being transferred to the central hopper 36 is guided by the bottom surface of the bottom envelope in the hopper, under the flap F thereof, into interleaved position therewith. When the leading edge of the envelope being transferred reaches the fold connecting the fiap and body portion of the bottom envelope in hopper 36, the vacuum to the head 104 or 106 is discontinued and the envelope is released therefrom. However, when the envelope is in position to be released by the head 104 or 106, the trailing edge of the envelope being transferred is also in position to be intercepted by the teeth of the rotating feed Wheels 78 or 80, which ever the case may be. Once intercepted by these teeth, traveling in the direction indicated, the trailing edge of the envelope is carried upwardly into the hopper to complete insertion of the envelope into the hopper. The manner of insertion into the hopper 36 is the same from both sides; only to the opposite hand from opposite sides.

As successive envelopes are inserted into the hopper 36, the top of the stack, of course, moves upwardly. Groups of the interleaved envelopes may be removed from the top of the stacks for subsequent packaging.

The means for driving the feed wheels 78 and 80 are shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 6. The driver sprocket wheel 200 mounted on the main drive shaft 180, drives chain 202 around sprocket wheels 204, 206, 208, 210 and 212 in the directions indicated. Sprocket wheels 206 and 210 are keyed to the shafts 00 and 82 respectively to drive the feed members 78 and 80 as indicated.

Vacuum is communicated to the openings 220 and 222 in the suction heads 104 and 106 through the movable hollow shafts 144 and 146 respectively, to which the suction heads are mounted. Vacuum is supplied to the openings 148 and in the arms 100 and 102 respectively by means of the tubes 224 and 226 respectively leading thereto through the openings 228 and 23% respectively.

Vacuum to the tubes 224 and 226 is supplied by a vacuum source (not shown) by way of a rotary timing valve arrangement, as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The cam wheel 122 rotates adjacent a stationary housing 240, and is provided with a circular slot 242 on the side thereof which faces the housing 240. Slot 242 is exposed directly to the vacuum supply tube 244. Slot 242 also communicates directly with the approximately semicircular timing slots 246 and 248 by means of connecting slots 259 and 252. Vacuum therefore is continuously supplied to the timing slots 246 and 248. The opening 254 leading to vacuum tube 224, and the opening 256 leading to vacuum tube 226 terminate at the face of the cam wheel 122, and in the circular path of slots 246 and 248 respectively. Consequently, for the portion of the rotation of cam wheel 122 during which slot 246 is over the end of the opening 254, vacuum will be communicated to head 104, and for the portion of the rotation of cam Wheel 122 during which slot 148 is in contact with the opening 256, vacuum will be communicated to the head 106. Vacuum timing to each of the heads is such that vacuum wil be cut on to each head just prior to the end of its back stroke at a supply hopper, and cut off at about the time the head reaches the other end of its stroke.

Progressive sequence diagrams illustrating operation of the machine are shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9. It will be noted from these sequence diagrams that envelopes E are withdrawn alternately from the two supply hoppers, and moved in a direction such that the leading edge of the envelope being inserted in the central hopper strikes the bottom face of the lower envelope in the central hopper and is guided thereby into position under the flap.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to eX- plain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art Within the principal and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for forming a stack of envelopes having the body of each envelope interposed between the flap and body of an adjacent envelope which comprises:

(a) a central vertical hopper for holding envelopes in substantially horizontal planes,

(b) means at the bottom of said hopper for supporting a stack of interleaved envelopes while permitting the flap of the lower envelope therein to drape freely, and for permitting envelopes to be inserted into the lower end thereof from opposite sides,

(c) means for holding stacks of envelopes on opposite sides of said central hopper, such that the flaps of the individual envelopes therein face downward and point in the direction of the central hoppper,

(d) means for alternately grasping and withdrawing the lower envelope of each side stack and moving it towards the bottom of said central hopper in a direction such that the leading edge thereof strikes the bottom of the lower envelope in said hopper, sliding above the flap thereof, and for then imparting a generally upward movement to the trailing end of the envelope being moved such that it is received into said central hopper.

2. Mechanism for forming a stack of envelopes having the body of each envelope interposed between the flap and body of an adjacent envelope which comprises:

(a) a central vertical hopper for holding envelopes in substantially horizontal planes,

(b) means at the bottom of said hopper for supporting a stack of interleaved envelopes while permitting the flap of the lower envelope therein to drape freely, and for permitting envelopes to be inserted into the lower end thereof from opposite sides,

(0) means for holding a stack of envelopes on opposite sides of said central hopper such that the bottom envelope of each is removably held in a plane approximately tangent to an arc to which the bottom of said vertical hopper is also tangent, the individual envelopes in said stacks having their flaps facing downward and in the direction of the central hopper,

(d) means for alternately grasping lower envelopes from each side stack and moving them towards the bottom of said central hopper in a direction such that the leading edge thereof strikes the bottom of the lower envelope in said hopper, sliding above the flap thereof, and for then imparting a generally upward movement to the trailing end of said envelope such that it is received into said central hopper.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2 in which the means described in (d) includes:

(a) a pair of envelope transfer arms, each being associated with the dispensing end of different side stacks and the bottom of the central hopper,

(b) means for oscillating said arms between side stacks and the central hopper, each arm being substantially out of phase with the other,

(e) means causing said transfer arms to grasp and withdraw an envelope from its associated stack during a portion of its oscillation, and to insert the so withdrawn envelope into said central hopper during another portion of its oscillation.

4. The method of forming a stack of envelopes in which the body portion of each envelope is interposed between the flap and body portion of an adjacent envelope which comprises the steps of:

(a) supporting the body of an envelope in a plane while allowing the closing flap thereof to drape away from the body of the envelope,

(b) delivering the succeeding envelope, from the side of said first mentioned envelope opposite the edge thereof having the flap, and with the flap of the envelope being delivered on the trailing side, in a direction such that the leading edge thereof strikes the body of said first mentioned envelope while said envelope is traveling substantially in a plane forming an acute angle with the body of said first mentioned envelope, and

(c) completing delivery of said succeeding envelope into the stack thereby bringing it to rest in adjacent side registering position with said body of said first mentioned envelope.

No references cited.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. MECHANISM FOR FORMING A STACK FOR ENVELOPES HAVING THE BODY OF EACH ENVELOPE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE FLAP AND BODY OF AN ADJACENT ENVELOPE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A CENTRAL VERTICAL HOPPER FOR HOLDING ENVELOPES IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANES, (B) MEANS AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOPPER FOR SUPPORTRING A STACK OF INTERLEAVED ENVELOPES WHILE PERMITTING THE FLAP OF THE LOWER ENVELOPE THEREIN TO DRAPE FREELY, AND FOR PERMITTING ENVELOPES TO BE INSERTED INTO THE LOWER END THEREOF FROM OPPOSITE ENDS, 